DQS
DQS Holding GmbH, based in Frankfurt am Main is the parent company of DQS -UL Group. The company's activities include the assessment of the business processes of all kinds, as well as the certification of management systems.
- 3.1 Principle of operation
- 3.2 Network
History
DQS was founded in 1985 as the first German certification company in Frankfurt am Main and was also the world's third management system certification body. The target was the founding partners DGQ ( German Society for Quality Association) and DIN (German Institute for Standardization ) primarily to promote the German economy.
The founding predates accompanied by the publication of the first draft of the ISO 9000 series of standards with today's world the most important quality standard ISO 9001. In 1986, the DQS Certification in Germany was the first to issue a certificate in accordance with ISO 9001.
After the merger of DQS with the division Management Systems Solutions (MSS ) of the American Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in March 2008, the DQS -UL Group is today one of the world's largest Systemzertifizierern.
Corporate Structure
For DQS Holding GmbH are more than 80 offices in over 60 countries, forming a network in the framework of the international project handling. The approximately 20,000 customers of DQS -UL Group with currently represent approximately 47,000 certified locations in over 100 countries almost all industries.
The company employs approximately 2,800 employees, including about 2,300 auditors worldwide. Among the biggest companies in the group include the UL DQS Inc. (USA), DQS do Brasil Ltd.. , UL DQS Japan, DQS Medical GmbH and DQS GmbH in Germany.
DQS GmbH in Germany
The power spectrum of the corporate group are provided in Germany by DQS GmbH, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main and regional offices in Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart. With over 200 employees and approximately 800 auditors, it is the largest subsidiary of DQS Holding GmbH. Managing Director Götz sheet Schmidt.
Power spectrum
The offices of the group of companies orient themselves with their assessment offer to the prevailing market conditions and customer demands. In this case, the power spectrum of the DQS -UL Group include cross-industry both customized as well as assessments to industry-specific requirements and certifications for more than 100 nationally and internationally recognized regulations. Among the most important standards and areas of activity include:
- ISO 9001 (Quality)
- ISO 14001 (Environment)
- BS OHSAS 18001 (health and safety )
- ISO / TS 16949 (automotive)
- ISO 27001 ( Information Security )
- ISO 50001 (energy management)
- ISO 13485 ( Medical Devices)
- IRIS ( railway vehicle industry)
- EN 9100ff ( Aerospace )
- Directive 93/42/EC of the European Council on Medical Devices ( MDD )
In addition, assessments for risk management systems, sustainability, privacy, health and social services, education, business excellence and integrated management systems.
Operation
A special feature of the operation of the Group represents the assessment services are provided predominantly by external auditors on a fee basis. The auditors are involved in businesses in the industry in general, in which they examine also. In conjunction with proven certification and knowledge of the industry so will feed with a high level of expertise of practitioners and researchers as well as a constantly updated state of the art from the relevant sectors in the assessment.
Network
DQS is a founding and full member of the 1990 created international certifier network IQNet Association. The main objective of the current 36 members comprehensive network is the mutual international recognition of certificates issued by Member companies. One of the Managing Director of DQS Holding GmbH, Michael Drechsel, is acting president of the network.